I'm old school, and dislike these black wheels:





Yeah, they're SHINY, but the tire and wheel just disappear into the wheel well - there's no contrast.

I just now realized the $500.00 upgraded factory wheels are EXACTLY the wheels I desire, only they are solid black:






Instead of grey with a machined surface:



Taking these to get them DIAMOND CUT will give me the desired contrast, with a black, rather than a grey background.

Anyone ever done this?

Do I need a clear epoxy coating over it, and if so, how to make sure that sticks to the rest of the wheel?

BEST !

RWS

 

I was also not a fan of black rims initially but they have grown on me and appear to be very desired nowadays. Your contrast issue may be resolved by simply painting your brake calipers red to match the red growler center caps which may give you the "pop" you're looking for at a fraction of the cost. I repainted the faded brake pads on my previous R without removing the wheels in 2 hours which included adding new "Jaguar" decals.

 

You could most likely trade somebody for different wheels because there is a solid demand for black wheels. Probably easier than all the hassle of having them re coated or diamond cut.

 

Yes, you need to clear them otherwise you will run the risk of the metal becoming dull and contaminated over time.

 

I posted the trade here and on several Facebook pages.

Folks in PA and LA are interested, but on one in Florida

 

Did you paint your brake pads?? or the calipers?? I am impressed that if you did the calipers you got it done without taking the wheels off! Can you please share your secret?? thank you!

 

Well spotted Valerie!
I suspect he meant brake calipers not brake pads, AND that he meant he painted the calipers without removing them (the calipers) not without removing the wheels.
Maybe it all got lost in translation?

 

I am also not a fan of black wheels for the same reason, especially if they have wide spokes or a lot of spokes. If they have thin spokes, then the blobbiness is set off by the coloured calipers and silver rotors. I look for graphite (gunmetal) coloured wheels, but I think in the case of your particular wheel style, there is so much acreage in spokes that diamond cut is the only way to go, otherwise they will look like steel wheels painted black. Personally, I would sell them and buy some forged rims which would hugely improve the driving experience, but then that is pretty much my advice with any jaguar OEM wheel.

 

It was the calipers on my first F-Type that I painted and added new decals. This style rim allowed me the space to pull it off without removing the wheels but I still had to move the vehicle a couple of times. Would not attempt it with the rims on my newest F-Type. Thunderjet would even have more room to work with but it appears that he is going to try and replace his rims over painting the calipers.

 

After discussing the problems with runout tolerances on aftermarket wheels vs factory wheels with the guys at my local tire store, I would ONLY do a factory wheel.

ANYBODY WANT TO TRADE OUT THERE ? - (more photos below)

Otherwise its going to be diamond cut & clear.

BEST !

RWS

 

personally, I'd take the wheels off. So much easier.

 

I think those wheels look sinister on your car especially with the black trim accents.

 

THANKS !

But I need the CONTRAST ! ! !

Guess I'm old school, but NO WHITEWALLS, REDLINES OR RAISED WHITE LETTERS - LMAO !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I wouldnt dare contradict the advice that your wheel guys have given re runout tolerances (which I didnt even know was a thing before I googled it), I can only speak from my experience. I have had the forged Vorsteiners on for 4 years, about 25000km (just coming due for new tyres). The car rides far better than it had on OEM 19's which were tremendously heavy, as they are made to the same spec as Land Rover wheels, designed to cope with the worst of Britain's roads. The reduction in weight is very noticeable, particularly in direction changes, with the car being a lot more nimble than it had been. The ride is about the same on 21's as it had been on the OEM 19's, though I also changed tyres from the P Zeros. The ride and handling is often commented on by passengers, and by the service guys. They are always surprised how good it is given the size of the rims.

Personally if I had your car and I wasnt going to get new rims, I would have the inner part of the spoke painted white, and the calipers painted white, or just the calipers. I had the calipers on my mustang painted orange to match the orange fury paint, it looks fantastic and professionally done (cost a grand, colour matched) the brake dust isnt that noticeable.

 

I diamond-cut my factory Gyrodynes. I have a black F with the silver Gyrodynes but wanted the contrast of the 2-tone Gyrodynes, which are diamond cut from the factory. I had to first powerdercoat to get the black before machining to reveal the silver, then clear and curing. Finish has held up for a year now.



yes...the vinyl's been removed

 

Well, THAT's very encouraging!

Do you know what kind of clear was used?

Lacquer?

Clear enamel w/hardener?

In the end, was the clear sprayed over the powdercoat black ?

By the way BEAUTIFUL CAR AND COMBINATION WITH THE CONTRASTING WHEELS !!!!!!!!!!!!

BEST !

RWS

 

Thanks! I don't know the type of clear used, but it was applied over the entire wheel including the powdercoat as the final step then baked. I suspect your shop would recommend also stripping/ sanding down the factory clear in the other areas, so the whole wheel can be clearcoated and cured. But maybe it's possible to blend new clear to old and not have it flake off over time?

Think yours will come out looking very sharp. Post pics!

 

More co trast than black against white? Lol dont think you can get much more contrast than that.

Any wheel shop or powder coater csn do what you want with those wheels. Im sure wheels is common for most shops. Do some google searches in your area. Theyll know how to clear them properly.

 

UPDATE:

Found a company who will:

• remove the wheels from the car
• remove the tires & sensors
• sandblast the wheels
• powdercoat the wheels in gloss black (seems redundant, but has to be done for the clear to adhere
• machine cut the front surface of the wheels
• clear coat the wheels
• mount the tires & sensors
• balance the wheels
• reinstall them on the car

$185 per wheel.

It happens next week.

The result will be like this:




except the grey parts will be black.​

She'll be OUTSTANDING and ONE OF A KIND !​​​​​​

Kind of the look I had on her predecessor:




*.5 years, 100,000 miles and other than warranty items and regular maintenance, not one - that's right, NOT ONE ISSUE OR FAILURE, EVER

BEST CAR I EVER OWNED.

HOPE TO DUPLICATE IT WITH THE F-Type

 

That’s about the price for the work involved; I paid ~$150/wheel a year ago (including fixing curb rash) but I guess inflation. Black vs the oem gray version is not only unique but looks even better, IMHO.